WNBA Faces Potential Work Stoppage: Implications for League’s Future

The WNBA, kind of like the NHL back in the early ’90s, is in the middle of a wild growth spurt. But as the league heads toward the end of its current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on October 31, 2025, things are getting pretty tense between the league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA).

With a possible work stoppage hanging over everyone’s heads, both sides have a lot to lose. There are some real echoes here of past labor fights in American sports, and it’s worth asking what all this could mean for the league’s momentum—and its future.

The WNBA’s Rapid Expansion and Rising Popularity

In just the last few years, the WNBA has grown like crazy in viewership and commercial value. Right now, there are 13 teams, but that’ll jump to 15 by 2026 and 18 by 2030.

This expansion shows that women’s basketball is catching on in a big way. More people are paying attention, and the league’s becoming a bigger part of the sports conversation.

Record-Breaking Attendance and Ratings

Back in August, the WNBA smashed its attendance record. TV ratings are still climbing, too.

With the league hotter than ever, sponsors are piling in. It’s got a vibe a lot like the NHL in the early ’90s, when hockey felt fresh and full of possibilities.

Labor Disputes: A Common Thread in Sports

Even with all this buzz, the WNBA’s coming up on a crucial moment as it hammers out a new CBA. The current deal ends October 31, 2025, and the big stuff—revenue sharing, player salaries—is still up in the air.

It’s hard not to think about the NHL’s 1994 lockout, which dragged on for 103 days and wiped out 468 games.

Revenue Sharing and Player Salaries

Revenue sharing is a huge sticking point. Players want a system where their share isn’t capped, arguing they should get a fair cut as the league grows.

Right now, there’s a salary cap set every year. A lot of players feel like they haven’t really gotten to cash in on the league’s success the way they could have if things were structured differently.

Potential Consequences of a Work Stoppage

The threat of a work stoppage is hanging over everyone. Sports history is full of examples where labor fights set leagues back for years.

Take Major League Baseball’s 1994-95 strike—attendance dropped by 20 percent, and it took ages for fans to come back. The NHL’s 1994-95 lockout did a number on attendance, too, and left bad blood that took a while to fade.

The Impact on the WNBA

If the WNBA ends up in the same boat, the fallout could be brutal. A 20 percent dip in attendance could erase a year’s worth of gains, especially since over 3 million fans showed up this season.

Missed games don’t just hurt the league—they can sap fan interest, hit local economies, and crank up the tension between players and the league.

Players’ Preparedness and Unity

Players aren’t shy about their push for better pay and a fairer revenue split. They’ve worn T-shirts demanding higher salaries during the All-Star Game and packed CBA meetings like never before.

Kelsey Plum, the WNBPA’s first vice president, said they’ve put forward a bunch of proposals, but the two sides still seem pretty far apart.

Financial Preparedness

Players know they need to be smart about money during these talks. They’re talking about saving up and finding other ways to make cash.

Some are looking at playing in leagues like Unrivaled or Athletes Unlimited, or heading overseas in the off-season to keep the paychecks coming.

The League’s Perspective

From the league’s side, it’s a balancing act. They want to boost player salaries and benefits, but they also have to keep the league on a path to profitability.